Las Palmasvs.Espanyol

Diego Martinez's side are currently 14th in the La Liga table, boasting 19 points from their opening 17 matches of the campaign, while Espanyol are 18th, with the Catalan team on 15 points from their first 17 games.

Match preview

Martinez's record since arriving as Las Palmas head coach at the start of October is incredible, with the team winning seven, drawing one and losing two of their 10 matches under his control.

Towards the start of the campaign, it did appear that Los Amarillos would be in for a very difficult season which would inevitably end in relegation, but Pio Pio are now looking up the division rather than down.

Las Palmas are unbeaten in their last four matches in all competitions, with that run including a 2-1 success over Barcelona at the end of November, while they held Real Sociedad to a goalless draw last weekend.

A total of five wins, four draws and eight defeats from 17 matches has brought La Union Deportiva 19 points, which has left them in 14th spot in the table, four points outside of the relegation zone.

Las Palmas have not actually beaten Espanyol in La Liga since April 2016, and this will be the first top-flight meeting between the two sides since a 1-1 draw in April 2018.

Espanyol, meanwhile, drew 1-1 with Valencia on Wednesday night, following on from their goalless draw with Osasuna last weekend.

Manolo Gonzalez's side have won four, drawn three and lost 10 of their 17 league matches this season to collect 15 points, which has left them in 18th spot in the table, one point behind 17th-placed Alaves.

The Catalan team have conceded 29 times in their 17 league matches this season, which is the second-worst defensive record, and it does appear that they will be firmly locked in a relegation battle this season.

Espanyol's last win in Spain's top flight was a 3-1 success over Celta Vigo at the end of November, while they have been beaten in each of their last four matches on their travels during a difficult run.

The White and Blues have spent two of the last four seasons in the Segunda Division, so it is a difficult period in the club's history, and it would be another huge blow if they suffered relegation once again this term.

Las Palmas La Liga form:

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Las Palmas form (all competitions):

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Espanyol La Liga form:

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Espanyol form (all competitions):

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Team News

Las Palmas will be missing Daley Sinkgraven, Alberto Moleiro and Viti through injury this weekend, but Alex Suarez and Fabio Silva are both available again after missing out against Real Sociedad through suspensions.

Suarez and Silva are set to return to the XI here, while there is also expected to be a spot for Marvin Park, with the Spaniard likely to be Moleiro's replacement in a wide area.

Benito Ramirez and Oli McBurnie are also among the options for change, but the pair are expected to continue on the bench.

As for Espanyol, Salvi Sanchez and Jose Gragera will miss out due to injury problems, but Pol Lozano is available again after sitting out the clash with Valencia due to suspension.

Lozano is set to return to the XI here, but it might otherwise be the same side that took to the field for the first whistle against Valencia.

Javi Puado has been Espanyol's most productive player this season, scoring six times and registering one assist in 15 La Liga appearances, and the Spaniard will again feature in the final third of the field.

Las Palmas possible starting lineup:

Cillessen; Munoz, Suarez, McKenna, Marmol; Essugo, K Rodriguez; Sandro, Campana, Park; Silva

Espanyol possible starting lineup:

J Garcia; El Hilali, Kumbulla, Cabrera, Olivan; Roca, Lozano, Kral, Carreras; Cheddira, Puado

We say: Las Palmas 2-1 Espanyol

Las Palmas' form since changing managers at the start of October has been terrific, and they will fancy their chances of overcoming an Espanyol side that have lost their last six league games on their travels; we are expecting it to be close in terms of the scoreline, but Las Palmas should have enough to secure all three points.

Written by

Matt Law

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